solidThinking, Inc. Releases solidThinking Evolve 9.0

By DE Editors

solidThinking, Inc. has announced the release of solidThinking Evolve 9.0, a new version of its concept-design and 3D modeling software. solidThinking Evolve 9.0 is said to feature a simplified user interface and workflow, improved comprehensive modeling interaction, interactive photorealistic rendering and additional format and language support.

The successor to solidThinking 8.5, solidThinking Evolve 9.0 offers a hybrid modeling system that allows designers to rapidly create organic surface or solid models while enabling the flexibility of parametric CAD modeling, according to the company. Concepts for new solidThinking products and enhancements result from a partnership with the ThinkLabs Design Studio and parent company Altair Engineering, Inc. 

“We’re giving designers the best of both worlds in one package with fewer limitations,” said Darren Chilton in a press statement. Clinton is program manager for solidThinking Evolve. “With its new capabilities and updated features, solidThinking Evolve 9.0 lets users focus on their design work and bringing concepts to life, rather than being distracted by the tools and technology they are using.”

According to solidThinking, the new features in the latest solidThinking Evolve release include:

• An improved user interface for better visualization and communication, improved model shading and visualization options, more flexible object naming, flags indicating features that may need repair and a “smart delete” feature for hiding and un-hiding source objects when deleting items.
• Better surface continuity and control for several tools, and a simplified workflow that allows multiple modeling operations to be completed in a single function.
• Interactive rendering, including functions that improve the ability to control multiple textures and materials on each surface. Updated texture mapping allows for interactive placement, and a new KeyShot plug-in to save native .bip files and launch them directly to KeyShot.
• Spanish and Portuguese language support.

solidThinking says it has redesigned the engine that controls the software’s tools and the way that the geometry is created and stored. As a result, the company says Evolve 9.0 is more robust, and produces better models to pass downstream for engineering and production.

“The improvements in tool functionality and features such as ‘smart delete’ make the workflow an absolute breeze,” said Michal Hrk, creative director of Sundog Eyewear, in a press statement. “Even if you're new to the 3D CAD world, solidThinking Evolve makes the process extremely intuitive, so you get the desired result quicker.”

For more information, visit the solidThinking Evolve 9.0 Web page.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company's website.